Bangkok: – Huai Kwang police have arrested four of the eight-member gang involve in a scam to fraudulently rent vehicles before selling as spare parts or sending to neighbouring countries.

Three car theft suspects remain at large and one is released after reporting to police.

Police have seized 16 cars, five GPS vehicle tracking devices and 689,900 baht as evidence.

The case came to light after car rental operator Siwaporn Tangrungruangyu, 39, filed a complaint.

Siwaporn said her three rental cars had not been returned and that the GPS tracking system located the cars in Huai Kwang district.

Police used the GPS information to track down the rental vehicles at the used car tent on Thien Ruammit Road.

The police search of the tent uncovered three rental vehicles comprising Toyota Vios, Honda Jazz and Honda CRV.

Police name three tent operators and one vehicle driver as suspects. The three are Piyawat Ketnak, 35, Suriyawut Namputsa, 28 and a Chinese national Kwangjerng Sae Jao, 20.

The fourth suspect, Napapat Phanphermcharoenkit, 35, surrendered.

Police said the gang operated in three steps.

First, Napapat, her husband Thanathip Phanphermcharoenkit, 42 and another suspect Laksanasak Kaewkannet, 37 would rent the vehicles under false pretense.

Second, the rent vehicles would be driven by Kittiphat “Tee” Samitiwiwan, 27 and Purita Maneenat, 25.

Third, the GPS tracking devices of the stolen vehicles would be removed by Piyawat, Suriyawut and Kwangjerng.

During the search, Purita was in the driver’s seat awaiting the GPS removal.

Police are tracking down Thanathip, Kittiphat and Laksanasak.

Police have called for car rental operators to improve on identity checks before leasing the vehicles.

Ah...that explains all the RHD Thai pickups in Myanmar's Kayin state near the Thai border.